Machine fob cutting hides



C. F. KLEIN.

MACHINE FOR CUTTlNG-HIDES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12.191B.

1 ,306,26 1 Patented June 10, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Br QXW 2. F. KLEIN. MACHINEY'FOR cumma HIDES. APPLICATION FILED AFR. I2. 1918. 1,306,261 Patented June 10, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

m;- NnRR/s PETERS cc.. FwanrL/rna, WASHINGTON. u L

C. F. KLEIN.

- MACHINE FOR CUTTING HLDES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. [918.

1 ,306 ,26 1 v Patented June 10; 1919."

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. F. KLEIN.

MACHINE FOR.CUTTING HIDES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 191B. 1 306,26l.

, M w\ mm MN KHW rare FIGE.

CHARLES F. KLEIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING HIDES.

App1icationfi1edApri112,1918. Seria1No.228,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State'of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Hides, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for splitting or cutting hides, to remove from the back of the hide the belly, while the invention is in no senser'est'ricted ,to this use and it,n1ay be employed for longitudinally cutting or splitting hides generally, or other material. i

An important object of the invention is to provide amachine of the above mentioned character, whichis comparatively simple in construction, and adapted to be operated in a highly expeditious and convenientmanner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned embodying my invention, r

character, having parts which are adjustable whereby the machine may act upon hides of different thicknesses or qualities.

Other objects and advantages of the'invention will be apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one 'end of the guide rail and associated elements.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5,

5 is a side elevation of the carriage and cutter, viewedfrom line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the lower end of the guide rail,associ ated elements being shown in section,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a rotatable cutter, r

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the machine,

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an adjusting nu. 7 h

Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe machine, through the longitudinal slot, showing the inclination of the contact face of the rail,

Fig. 13 is a plan View of one end of the rail and associated elements,

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on line 1414 of Fig. 4, and,

Fig. 15 is a detailed section taken on line 1515 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 20 designates a tabl or base, constituting the body portion of the machine. This table is formed of two longitudinal strips or boards 21 and 22,.the ends of which are placed in contacting relation, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. These strips or boards have spacing elements or blocks'23 (see Fig. 4) disposed beneath them, and transverse metal strips 24 are attached to the strips 21 and 22 by screws 25 or the like, also passing through the blocks 23; The strips 24 are thereby spaced from the table 20. As more clearly shown in Figs. 1,8, 9 and 10, the inner longitudinal edge of the strip or board 21 is faced by a metallic strip 26, which may be copper, steel or the like. This strip may be secured thereto by screws or other suitable means. The coacting strip or board 22 is pro vided opposite the metallic facing strip 26 with a longitudinal recess 27, for a purpose to be described. Openings 28, preferably formed in the strip or board 22, occur atthe opposite ends of the table, as shown.

Transversely adjustably mounted within the longitudinal recess 27 isa guide bar 29, one edge of which is faced by a strip 30, of suitable metal. This strip maybe attached to the guide bar by a screw or the like. The

ends of the guide bar 29 are preferably inclined or tapered, as shown at 31, to coact with tapered portions 32, as shown.

Means are provided to transversely adjust theguide bar 29, embodying a plurality of adjusting nuts 33, arranged within openings 34 formed in the guide bar 29. These nuts are provided at their upper ends with plates or flanges 35, fitting within recesses 36, and preferably flush with the upper surface of the guide bar. The flanges 35 have openings 37 for the reception of screws or the like, serving to hold them in place. As more clearly shown in Fig. 10, a corresponding number of bolts 38 engage the nuts 33 and have heads 39, arranged within recesses 40. A washer 41 is interposed between the head 39and the guide bar 29. A plate 42 is attached to the strip or board 22 by means of screws 43 or the like. The plate 42 covers the recess and has a central opening 44, whereby a screw-driver or the like may be inserted in a groove 45 of the head 39 to turn the bolt 38. It is thus seen that by turning the bolt 38, the guide bar 29 may be shifted laterally toward and away from the strip or board 22, thereby adjusting the width of a longitudinal slot 46 (Fig. 10) provided by these elements.

Arranged above the table 20 is a guide rail 47 provided upon its opposite sides with longitudinal grooves 48, whereby the guide rail is a double channel in cross-section. L-shaped metallic strips 49 and 50 are attached to the rail 47, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6', the guide rail 47 has a leaf 51 of a hinge rigidly'secured to one end thereof, and this leaf is provided with elongated knuckles 52, receiving a pintle 53 carried by the knuckles of the co-acting leaf 54 of the hinge. The leaf 54 is secured to the table 20by screws or the like. It is thus apparent that a hinge has been provided which will permit of the rail 47 being swung vertically and by virtue of the elongated knuckles 52 the hinged end of the rail 47 may partake of restricted vertical move ments, thus enabling the rail to be used in connection with hides of different thicknesses. It is to be understood, however,

that I the invention is not necessarily restricted to'this particular type of hinge as the ordinary hinge may be employed, which will not permit of this vertical play. The ordinary hinge is used when a machine is employed for cutting thin or light hides,

and the clamps, (to be referred to), are not used, the rail being held in the lowered position by application of pressure upon the free end'thereof.

The lower face of the guide rail 47, (see Fig. 12) is faced with a strip of rubber 56 or other yielding material, to obtain a firm hold upon the hide, and this facing is tapered and decreases in thickness toward its 7 ends, providing a slightly inclined contact face, extending upwardly toward the ends of the rail 47. The function of thus inclining the face 56 is to insure a proper contact between the central portion of the face and the hide, and if this is 'obtained a proper contact throughout the entire length of the face will be obtained as downward pressure is exerted upon the ends of the rail 47.

This downward pressure is effected by ieans of clamping devices designated'as a whole by the numeral 57, in Fig. 1. These clamping devices are identical andadetailed description of one will suffice for both, in

this connection attention being called particularly to Figs. 2, 3-and 5. Disposed near each end of the rail 47 are standards or uprights 58 and 59 rigidly secured to the strips or boards 21 and 22, respectively, as shown at 60. These standards are disposed at a slight angle and diverge upwardly. and receive the rail 47 thercbetween, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Each standard 58 is provided with a'knuckle or ear 61-,l1aving a screw-threaded opening to receive a bolt 62, carrying a lock nut 63. The numeral 64 designates a vertically swinging lever, disposed upon one side of the standards 58 and 7 5 9, and provided near one end with an elongated opening 65, pivota-lly receivingithe bolt 62. A spring 66 surroundsthe, bolt 62 and is disposed between the lever 64 and a washer 67 carried by the bolt and contacting with the head thereof. The lever 64is provided near its pivot with a laterally extending stop 64, to contact with the knuc'klef6l, when the lever is swung to the upper posi-.

tion, and restricting the. movement of the Yielding means are employed in connection with each lever 64, comprising a socket 71, secured to the rail 47, by means of screws 72 orthe like.

The socket 71 is screwthreaded for receiving a tubular member 73,

as clearly shown in Fig; 5. This tubular member recelves a compressible collsprmg 74, of suitable stiffness, engaging a plate or washer 75, mounted to reciprocate within.

the tube 73. The upward -movement of the plate 75 is limited by stop screws '7 6 or the like. The tube 73 is providedat diametrically opposite points with vertical openings 77, to receive the lever 64, which contacts with the plate or washer 75, as is obvious. It is thus, apparent that by swinging'the members 64 downwardly, they will contact 7 with the plates 75, andoactupon the springs 74, to yicldin'gly urge the rails 47 downwardly, in contact with the head or the like, to hold the same against displacement. The levers 64 may be lockedjin adjustment at desired positions, as hereinabove explained.

The numeral 78 designates a carriage as a whole, including an inverted U-shaped portion 79, which straddles the. rail 47. This carriage is slightly wider than the rail 47 and metallic strips 80 are arranged between the rail 47 and one side of theU-shaped body portion 79, to take up undue slack,and allow of the strips 80 being removed for the purpose of repairer replacement, when they become worn. The strips '80 are bent at their ends to form lateral extensionss8l, projecting into openings or notches 82. These strips also have connection with bolts 83.

The U-shapedbody portion 79 is equipped with a handle 84 rigidly secured thereto, by means ofwhich the carriage is moved longitudinally. The carriage is providedwith rollers or wheels 85, and there are preferably two of these rollers on each side. Therollers 85 are arranged uponthe interior of the sides of the U-shaped body portion 79 and are pivotally. connected therewithby bolts 86 orthe like.- The rollers 85 travel within the longitudinal grooves 48 and contact with the strips 50, as shown. It might be stated at this point that the carriage 78 is manually moved to the left inFig. 1, but is adapted to automatically gravitate to therightor starting position by the rail 47 beingswung upwardly. r

Connected withthe rail 47, near its free end, is an eye-bolt'87, having connection witha, nonextensible element 88, such as a chain or the like having a retractile'coil spring 89 connected therein; The element 88 is connected with the upper endof a vertical standard 90,-rigidly secured to the table 20, as shown.

The rearward or downward. movement of the carriage 78. is stopped by a shock ab sorbing device 91, embodying a reciprocatory head 92 carrying a face 93 formedof leather or the like. The head 92 carries. a shank 94 inserted in one end of a coil spring 95, receiving a shank 96 in its opposite end. The shank 96 is attached to'ablock 97 secured within the groove 48 and held therein tal opening 100. The opening 99 is spanned by a horizontal support plate 101, also held in place by the bolts 86. The plate 101 and one side of the U-shaped body portion 79 are provided with central openings receiving a pivot element 102 This pivot element passes through an opening in a cutter or blade 103, having ahandle 104, preferably arranged near the handle 84. Thelower end of the blade 103 operates within a pocket 105, formed upon the lower edge of the guide plate 98, by securing a strap 106 thereto. The blade 103 is adapted to be locked in adjustment at a desired angular position by a bolt 106, having screwthreaded engagement with the plate 101. It is thus apparent that the'guide plate 98 operates within the slot 46, and has slidable engagement with the lower end of the blade 103 preventing it from bending or buckling,

during the cutting operation; It is necessary to'use guide plates 98 ofdifferent thicknesses depending upon the thickness or character ofthe hide being cut and for this purpose the guide plate 98 is removable, so that anew guide plate. may be substituted therefor and the guidebar 98 is adjustable, for providing the slot 46 of the proper width to accommodate the guide plate.

Attention is called to the fact that the blade 103 is disposed between the guide plate 98and the Us-shaped body portion 79. .1 In cutting certain hides it is desirable to use a rotatable cutter, and for this purpose I provide the circular cutter 107 adapted for insertion within the circular opening 99 and having a central opening 108 receiving the pivot element 102.

Inv cutting hides or other material into strips, itis desirable to. provide gage means for ascertaining the width of the strips to be cut. 1 For this purpose I have provided a plurality of gages 109, which are adjustable. Each'gage embodies a plate 110, operating within a transverse groove 111 and carrying a transverse head 112. The plate 110 has a longitudinal slot 113, receiving'a bolt 114, .passingthroughan' opening in a lower plate 115, and carrying a thumb nut 116. The lower plate is provided with a longitudinal opening 117, receiving a bolt 118, attached to the strip or board 22. The bolt 118 carries aclamping nut 119. From theforegoing description it is obvious that the-plates .110 and 115 are both longitudinally adjustable with relation to the table 20Yand with relation to each other. A further adjustment may be efiected by swinging the plate 110 upon its pivot to arrange the transverse head 112 outwardly with respect to the table 20.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The hide to be out has the leather portion arranged upon the table 20 and adjusted thereon so that the cutting will occur at the correct point. During this operation the rail 47 is held elevated by the spring 89. The rail 47 isnow brought to the lower horizontal position and the levers 64 forced downwardly and locked in the depressed po sition, causing the rail to have proper clamping engagement with the hide, preventing slipping thereof. The carriage 78, which is now in the starting position, is moved to the left, therebybringing the'blade 103 into contact with the hide, spanningthe slot 46.

The hide is thus cut or split longitudinally. Afterthis cutting operation the levers 64 are: released and-moved to the upper position, whereby the spring 89 will automatically elevate the rail '47, the carriage 78 then gravitating to the lower or stopping position. This operation may be conveniently effected by a single operator, but in cutting thin hides I have found'that the machine may be expeditiously operated'by two attendants. During such operation, the levers 64 may remain in the upper inactive position, and the free end of the rail 47 is held down by one attendant, the hinge holding the other end down. The other attendant then efiects the reciprocatory movement of the carriage.

The .gageslll are employed in cutting the hide or the like into longitudinal strips and they may be provided with suitable graduations, not shown, indicating the width of the strip. It is thought that the use of these gages is obvious.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

' 1. In a machine for cutting hides or the like, a table to receive the hide thereon and having a longitudinal slot, a rail. disposed above the table and havinga lower hide contacting face which is longitudinally inclined and extends upwardly slightly toward the ends of the rail, devices disposed near the opposite ends of the rail to move them downwardly toward the table, and a cutter operating within the longitudinal slot and traveling longitudinally of the rail.

2. In a machine for cutting hides or the like, a table to receive the hide thereon, a rail disposed above the hide and having a yielding contacting face secured to the lower side thereof, said yielding contacting face being longitudinally inclined and extending upwardly slightly toward the ends of the rail, adjustable devices engaging the ends of the rail to move it downwardly," and a cutter adapted to travel longitudinally of the rail.

3. In a machine for cutting hides or the like, a table to receive the hide thereon, a rail hinged at one end to the table, automatic means to swing the free end of the rail upwardly when released, an adjustable device engaging the free end of therail to force it downwardly, a carriage mounted ,to slide longitudinally upon the rail, a

cutter connected .with the carriage, and a yielding stop for the carriage Connected with, the rail near the hinged end thereof.

4. In a machine for cutting hides or the 7 like, a table to receivethe hide thereon, a rail hinged at one end to thetable, automatic imeans to swing the free end of the rail up- Wardly when released, an adjustable device engaging the free end of the rail to force 7 it downwardly, a carriage mounted to slide longitudinally upon the rail, and a cutter connected with the carriage.

5. In a machine for cutting hides or the like, a table to receivethehide thereon, a

rail arranged above thetable, a hinge having vertical play and connecting-one end of the rail with the table so that the rail may be arranged at an incline upon raising the free endof the rail, adjustable devices adapted for engagement with the opposite rail with the table, yielding means toswingr the free endof the rail upwardly when released, adjustable" devices adapted to engage the opposite ends of the rail to force it downwardly, a carriageto move longitudinally of the rail, and cutting means connected with the carriage; V i

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a table having a longitudinal slot and a longitudinal recess -'disposed'.-upon one side of the slot, a transversely adjustable guide bar disposed within the longitudinal recess to regulate the width of the slot, and cutting means adapted tobe moved longitudinally of thetable and projecting intotheslot; Y e

8. In apparatus of the. character :described, a table having a longitudinal opening, a guide bar arranged within: the opening andfor ming, withyone wall thereof a' longitudinal slot, means to transversely adjust the guide bar with relation ,to the table, a rail disposed above the table and extending longitudinally thereof, a carriage.

mounted toimove longitudinally upon the rail, and cutting means connected with the carriage and projecting into the longitudinal slot.

9. In apparatus of scribed, a table having a longitudinal opening, a guide barv arranged within the openlong-itudinal slot, means to move the guide bar? transversely with relation to the table,

arail extending longitudinally of the table," a carriage mounted upon the rail to move or and a blade connected with the guide plate ing and forming withone wall thereof a and having its lower end projecting into 1 the pocket.

10. In apparatus of above the same and provided upon its opposide' sides with channels, a carriage U-shaped in cross-section to straddle the rail,rollers the character de-' scrlbed, a table, a longitudinal rail disposed 110 r the character deand connected therewith and operating Within the channels, a detachable strip disposed between one side of the carriage and rail, and cutting means connected with the carriage. p

11. In apparatus of the character described, a table, a rail arranged above the table, two pairs of uprights secured to the table near the ends of the rail and receiving the rail therebetween to guide the same in its vertical movement, a transverse lever arranged above the rail in proximity to each pair of uprights and pivotally connected with one upright and adapted to engage the rail and force it downwardly, elements secured to the other upright in the same pair to engage the lever and lock it in the lower position, and a cutting device mounted upon the rail to move longitudinally thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. KLEIN. Witnesses:

EDWARD J. HAUsoHULTE, WILLIAM A. MANHART.

, Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' -Washington, D. O. 

